logo
episode-header-image
May 18
1h 3m

Challenging Advanced Readers

Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi
About this episode

How can teachers effectively support advanced readers in elementary school? In this insightful episode, we’re joined by literacy expert Nancy Young to explore practical, evidence-based strategies for meeting the needs of gifted and high-achieving readers in the classroom.

Nancy shares her expertise on differentiation strategies, including offering choice in reading materials, using tiered assignments, and implementing project-based learning to keep advanced readers engaged. We also discuss how to encourage critical thinking, promote independent reading, and create meaningful peer discussion and mentorship opportunities.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, reading specialist, or literacy coach, this episode offers valuable tools and inspiration to elevate your elementary reading instruction and ensure all students—especially your strongest readers—are challenged and supported.


RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:

  1. Updated Ladder of Reading & Writing with permissions for usage
  2. Chapter 2 of her book-free download
  3. Guided Inquiry Design
  4. SEM-R.   School-wide enrichment model for reading
  5. William and Mary Center for Gifted Ed Resources
  6. Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing by Nancy Young and Jan Hasbrouck *Amazon affiliate link
  7. contact Nancy via her website
  8. Acceleration Institute
  9. Subject-specific acceleration across grade grouping *Google drive file download



Support the show


Up next
Jul 11
7.18 Season 7 Finale
Shannon and Mary look back over Season 7 and reflect on what really matters for our reading students. "The right things for our learners" emerged as the unofficial theme of our seventh season. This phrase encapsulates what each of us strives for – cutting through the noise to ide ... Show More
31m 40s
Jul 5
7.17 Impactful Interventions
Shannon and Mary chat with Dr. Katie Pace-Miles about MTSS and RTI, sharing practical tips for delivering effective reading interventions, choosing quality resources, and running efficient team meetings to support struggling readers. Whether you're a classroom teacher trying to s ... Show More
56m 13s
Jun 27
7.16 Executive Functioning Demands
What's really happening when students struggle to stay on task, complete assignments, or transition between activities? In this illuminating conversation with literacy experts Dr. Matt Strader and Dr. Douglas Fisher, Shannon and Mary delve into the complex world of executive func ... Show More
1h 9m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2022
[Listen Again] Ep. 23: Emily Hanford Epically Defines the Science of Reading
We would love to hear from you! Send us a message (if you'd like a reply, email us at literacypodcast@greatminds.org)Hi Literacy Lovers! This week we wanted to offer you all a chance to listen to one of our favorite episodes from when we just started the podcast. The absolute ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2024
153 | Beginner - Short Story: The Book of Forgotten Stories [English Listening Practice]
Title: The Book of Forgotten StoriesLevel: Beginner (A1) #Story : Sophie, a curious girl, discovers a magical book in the library. The Book of Forgotten Stories reveals the lives and struggles of people she meets. As Sophie reads each story, she helps those in need, bringing hope ... Show More
5m 44s
Jan 2025
Engaging your students with Chaahat Dhall
Send us a textOur guest, Chaahat Dhall, from Fountainhead School in Surat, India has some great ways she engages her MYP students. From human libraries, to silent debates, to advisory circles and beyond, Chaahat shares some of the many resources she uses throughout the year. Chaa ... Show More
42m 49s
Oct 2024
7 tips for compelling titles to captivate your audience
Learn how to create engaging titles for conference sessions, blog and podcast headings and email marketing subject lines.Listen to find out more aboutBeing specificUsing numbersBeing short and snappyChoosing verbs wiselyPiquing curiosityTargeting your audience Sign up for alerts ... Show More
9m 1s
Aug 2024
[Episode 99] From Phonics to Fluency: Inside the RedThread Literacy Program (w/Robin Rubenstein)
In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, our host Dr. Wendy Amato discusses the importance of literacy and reading with Robin Rubenstein, Director of Curriculum and Implementation at K12 Coalition. This conversation centers around K12 Coalition's Red Thread literacy curriculum, ... Show More
22m 34s
Dec 2022
The 12 Books of Christmas, Part 3 – Dipo Faloyin, Lea Ypi and Melissa Thompson
For the third in our 12 Books of Christmas episodes, we revisit a thought-provoking discussion with Dipo Faloyin, whose book Africa Is Not A Country challenges the stereotypical thinking that can misrepresent African nations. Another highlight book of 2022 was Lea Ypi's Free, and ... Show More
56m 16s
Sep 2023
The Story Gets Better With Special Guest Emily Hanford
In this episode of Literacy Talks, the trio excitedly welcomes Emily Hanford, the award-winning journalist and media producer whose work and Sold a Story podcast have changed the literacy landscape. You’ll hear Emily talk about her career reporting on education and how she uncove ... Show More
45m 14s
Mar 2025
Karl Berglund, "Reading Audio Readers: Book Consumption in the Streaming Age" (Bloomsbury, 2024)
What is the future of reading? In Reading Audio Readers: Book Consumption in the Digital Age (Bloombury, 2024), Karl Berglund, Assistant Professor in Literature at Department of Literature and Rhetoric at Upsala University, examines the rise of audiobooks as a new mode of reading ... Show More
38m 42s